French Federation of Cycling

The French Federation of Cycling and Amaury Sport Organisation have renewed an agreement setting out the terms of their cooperation for 2014, 2015 and 2016.

This agreement is made up of three parts:

1. Finding the champions of tomorrow throughout France by reinforcing and assisting the Challenge Nationaux Juniors & Espoirs national youth competitions for emerging and junior riders as well as inter-regional Cadet level races.

2. Developing cycling in the French regions and departments by:

1. Purchasing specific equipment.

2. Organising training camps and competitions.

3. Implementing promotional operations.

To do this, a fund will be set up in order to assist regional and departmental committees to accomplish the projects which they will initiate themselves.
Similarly, a second fund will be set up in order to assist clubs in organising events reserved for amateur cyclists. The FFC and A.S.O. will soon set up a selection committee in order to validate the actions to which they will commit.

3. Creating a position of development agent dedicated to sporting facilities within the FFC. His or her role will be to draw up a master plan for sporting facilities and to assist the various players in their development initiatives based around the following themes:

o Enumeration of facilities.

o Structuring of national and regional projects.

o Guidance and assistance for regional and departmental committees as well as clubs.

Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque

A Tour de France partner since 2003, this charity enables children suffering from heart defects and living in underdeveloped countries to be operated on in France when it is impossible in their own country due to a lack of technical or financial resources.

Welcomed by volunteer foster families and operated on in ten hospitals in France (Angers, Bordeaux, Lyons, Marseilles, Nantes, Paris, Toulouse and Tours), more than 1,400 children have already been looked after by the charity since it was founded in 1996.

When the Etape du Cœur (stage of the heart), a stage of Le Tour completed by celebrities before the elite riders, the charity collects funds and promotes its action throughout France.

To date, the partnership with Le Tour has helped to save more than 200 children.

HandicapZéro

Since 1996, A.S.O. has been working with the charity HandicapZéro to make the Tour de France accessible to all.

During each edition of the Tour de France, visually impaired enthusiasts of the big loop can enjoy the following free of charge:

The majority of the road-book adapted by the charity into Braille and audio (on CD or downloadable) which can be consulted on-line at handicapzero.org.

All the news from the letour.fr web site made accessible on the charity's web site handicapzero.org throughout the entire duration of Le Tour

Youth initiatives:

Throughout the year, Le Tour gives plenty of opportunities to children and teenagers who are interested in cycling. A.S.O. has developed operations entirely dedicated to young people:

Cadets - Juniors:

To maintain enthusiasm for cycling amongst young people, A.S.O. has continued its commitment to clubs by organising the “Cadets - Juniors” operation for the last ten years. This event has become a strong symbol for the future of cycling, offering young riders the opportunity to experience an exceptional day under the same conditions of a team participating in the Tour de France. On each stage, 4 cadets (15-16 years old) and 4 juniors (17-18 years old), selected by local cycling clubs ride the first 30 km and last 30 km of the stage.

For the 7th year running, the corporate foundation of the Française des Jeux proposes, alongside charity Secours Populaire Français, in partnership with A.S.O. and FFC, activities for young people from disadvantaged areas. 1,100 children aged 6 to 12 years will be invited on 11 stages including 100 at the finish of Le Tour on the Champs-Élysées. On the programme will be:

A countryside picnic

Watching the Sponsor’s parade pass by

Watching the riders pass by

An introduction to BMX riding

Média-Pitchounes young reporters programme

27 young people from the disadvantaged districts of Toulouse, Decazeville (near Rodez), Nantes and Aurillac will all contribute to producing a magazine and mini-reports.

Environment

1/ PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY

The Museum of Natural History

“The Tour de France if Biodiversity”: the Tour de France, France Télévisions and the French Museum of Natural History have joined forces for the second year in order to promote the biodiversity of France’s regions to the public. With a daily showing of a video clip on France Télévisions at the start of the live broadcast concerning the plant-life and wildlife encountered by the riders and areminder in the official Tour de France newspaper distributed by Vittel in the Sponsor’s Parade, the Museum has issued a charter of good conduct which the Tour de France will be promoting. Bernard Hinault, nicknamed “the badger”, has accepted to be the ambassador of the Tour de France of biodiversity.

10 CIVIC ACTIONS IN FAVOUR OF NATURE: CYCLISTS, SPECTATORS AND ORGANISERS WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE IT A GOOD RACE!

1 – Respect the regulations of protected natural areas.

2 – Admire the plant-life and wildlife without interfering with them.

3 – Parking in natural areas is forbidden.

4 – Dispose of litter and waste in the dedicated places.

5 – Do not light fires.

6 – Take public transport wherever possible.

7 – Keep the roads clean.

8 – Keep a close watch on your pets.

9 – Find out more about the natural areas visited by the race.

10 – Encourage sporting fair-play and the riders!

“Natura 2000 Areas”: every year, the Tour de France alongside the consultancy Biotope conducts an assessment of the impact of its passage through the Natura 2000 areas. 105 sites will be visited by the Tour de France in 2014 in which special measures will be taken (concerning fly-overs by helicopters, silent running for the Sponsor’s parade, etc.).

2/ REDUCING LE TOUR’S FOOTPRINT

Waste management

“Sorting to help Le Tour”: collection, sorting and recycling of waste is carried out in all the areas occupied by the Tour de France (Villages, technical zones, etc.). Two coordinators are present throughout Le Tour to accompany the stage hosting towns and support staff to respect the instructions.

“Helping Le Tour to protect the mountains”: since 2001, the Regional Agency for Sustainable Development in the Midi-Pyrénées region of France has conducted awareness raising campaigns in the mountain ranges visited by Le Tour each year (the Vosges, Jura, Pyrenees and Alps in 2014). It coordinates the waste collection initiatives and provides 25,000 refuse bags to the spectators and motor-home owners.

“Clean holidays”: within the scope of its action throughout France and on beaches and in holiday resorts, this operation also contributes to the collection of waste on the Tour de France. 120,000 refuse bags will be supplied and distributed by the Tour de France.

The riders: each day, two clearly identified waste collection areas are set up and cleaned after the rider pass through by the organisers’ teams (near to the refreshment areas or at the foot of the last climb of the day). The jerseys of the leaders are equipped with pockets specially designed for waste.

Towards a paperless Tour: the use of paper is increasingly limited. Instead, files are sent out via electronic means.

Limiting CO2 emissions

Transports: the number of vehicles is progressively reduced, alternative means of transport are employed (via the use of shuttle busses, chair lifts, etc.), car-sharing is encouraged, the Tour de France car drivers and motor cycle riders receive training in eco-driving and the speed limit on all the roads of the Tour de France will again be limited to 80 kmph in 2014.

3/ PROMOTING CYCLING IN TOWNS AND CITIES

“La Fête du Tour”: created last year, this festival of Le Tour, which enables the general public to explore the future route of Le Tour, has seen approximately thirty events take place throughout France to encourage the practice of cycling. This year, this operation will be associated with the Fête du Vélo, France’s national cycling day.

“Urban cycling”: as part of its policy to reduce its carbon footprint, the Tour de France is examining a project that will be launched for the 2015 edition and which will involve promoting cycling in towns and cities in cooperation with the stage hosting towns and cities.

The Jerseys of the Tour

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Sponsorship and Environment

Since it was founded, Amaury Sport Organisation has been involved in various sponsorship and philanthropy activities. It is the generosity of sport that can be found in a certain number of initiatives aiming to invest in the workings of the disciplines themselves (sponsorship of the French Federation of Cycling), in a humanitarian and social framework, (Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, Actions Dakar, Un Techo Para Mi Pais) or in the environmental sphere (Madre De Dios, selective sorting, etc.).
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A.S.O. is committed to integrating environmental considerations into the organisation of its races: Limiting CO2 emissions; A quality waste management policy for the spectators but also for the organisers and the riders; The promotion of cycling as an alternative, environmentally-friendly means of transport.
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